Why do deep-sea microbes have such small appetites?
The deep sea is one of Earth’s largest reservoirs of carbon, yet microbes don’t consume very much of it. Researchers showed that this is…
Category: Environment
Unzipping bamboo to make better plastics
Scientists developed a recyclable plastic from bamboo that is stronger and more biodegradable than conventional petroleum-based products.
Gases power diverse microbial life in caves
Researchers found that cave-dwelling microbes use atmospheric trace gases like methane and carbon monoxide as sources of energy and carbon.
Is the most profitable fertilizer level also safe for the environment?
Researchers in the midwestern US measured how much nitrogen corn plants used versus how much remained in the soil, to help farmers maximize…
Fungi could reshape the next generation of smart materials
Scientists dispersed living fungal fibers into mixtures that can act as self-stabilizing emulsifiers, tunable films, and fast-responding…
Nanoplastics could promote Parkinson’s disease
Scientists demonstrated that polystyrene nanoplastics cause proteins associated with Parkinson's disease to accumulate in mice’s brains.
Metal-tolerant plants could change the future of mining
Researchers demonstrated that some plant species store high amounts of nickel in their biomass, making them good candidates for metal…
Reinventing fabric coatings from textile waste
Scientists developed a sustainable way to upcycle discarded polyester and spandex fabrics into durable, toxin-free coatings using…
Can 300-year-old Antarctic microbes help us understand climate change?
Researchers demonstrated that microbial DNA from a 300-year-old ice core can help track how microbes respond to global change.
Ice shelf collapse reveals early warning signs of melt
Scientists found that growing fractures caused an East Antarctic ice shelf to collapse.